Train case

ABSTRACT

A train case comprises a soft-sided generally rectangular parallelepiped outer luggage container and a rigid sided interior organizer comprised of a series of rectangular boxes that are interconnected by means of a telescoping mechanism which enables access to all of the boxes when the soft-sided container is opened and the sides of the soft-sided container are folded outwardly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a type of luggage commonly known as a train case which is comprised of an exterior carrying case or container in combination with an array of trays retained within the case.

Historically, luggage items known as train cases have comprised a hard sided, generally parallelepiped case with a hinged top that lifts open to expose the interior of the case. The interior is typically a single large compartment with a removable tray or a multiple tray construction. Such train cases are generally smaller in size than standard luggage items. Thus, they may be carried by travelers on airlines and originally on trains as a personal items case wherein make-up and other personal items including jewelry and the like may be easily carried by a traveler. The items may thus be between 15-24 inches wide typically, 12-18 inches deep and perhaps 10-18 inches high. Size is not necessarily a constraining aspect of such cases. Such cases, however, have been typically utilized by travelers as a means for carrying more than can generally be carried in a briefcase or purse, but less than in a full luggage item handled by a valet, for example.

Modern travelers have not utilized train cases to the extent as previously utilized. However, with the advent of luggage restrictions on airlines, the necessity for a train case has increased. Portability of such a case and the ability to utilize or convert such a case into multiple uses are factors with respect to such a luggage item that are more important for modern travelers than in the past. Additionally, the weight of a train case is desirably minimized in order to make it easier for the seasoned traveler to have such an item and its contents easily accompany the traveler. With these and other objectives, the present invention was conceived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a train case which includes a soft-sided exterior container made from a fabric or vinyl or other similar soft material and which further includes an interior organizer comprised of an array of rigid sided, generally rectangular, multi-tiered boxes having an open top wherein the boxes are attached to one another by a telescoping mechanism which facilitates access to each of the boxes once the soft-sided exterior container is opened. Thus, the soft-sided exterior container has a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration and includes a cover flap which may be fitted over the top of the container to form an enclosure into which the rigid sided, interior organizer may be placed. The spaced lateral sides of the soft-sided container project upwardly relative to the front and back sides of that container and when the container is open, those sides may be folded outwardly to facilitate the opening of the telescoping boxes forming the rigid sided, interior organizer. Preferably, the interior organizer is comprised of a multiplicity of rectangular boxes that are arrayed in layers or tiers one upon the other and which may be folded to a closed position in stacked layers for fitting within the interior of the soft-sided container and which also may be unfolded to expose the open top of the various boxes forming the organizer. The various boxes are thus connected to one another by a mechanism which permits the boxes to be moved or separated or telescoped with respect to each other, both upwardly and laterally with respect to a supporting lower box. The rigid sided organizer may also be entirely removed from the soft-sided container.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved train case construction and assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a train case comprised of a soft-sided exterior container and a multi-box, rigid sided interior organizer which provide a means for maintaining the shape and configuration of the overall combination and which also provides a means for storage and easy access to the contents of the train case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination soft-sided container which is lightweight and which includes an interior, rigid sided organizer.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the train case of the invention wherein the train case is in the closed position and ready for transport by a traveler as viewed from the front side thereof,

FIG. 2 is the train case of FIG. 1 in an isometric view as viewed from the backside thereof;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the train case of FIG. 1 wherein the top cover flap has been partially opened to view the enclosure and interior of the train case excluding the interior organizer;

FIG. 4 is an isometric front view of the train case organizer similar to FIG. 3, but further including the rigid-sided interior organizer placed within the soft-sided outer luggage container;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the train case of FIG. 4 wherein spaced lateral sides of the soft-sided generally rectangular parallelepiped outer luggage container are folded outwardly and the top cover flap is open to expose the rigid sided interior organizer and the layers of boxes comprising the organizer;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the soft-sided outer luggage container of FIG. 5 wherein the rigid sided interior organizer has been removed therefrom wherein the lateral sides are folded outwardly revealing the interior or enclosure of the luggage container;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 6 wherein the rigid sided interior organizer is positioned within the soft-sided outer luggage container and further wherein the separate boxes comprising the interior organizer are in their telescope position to expose the open tops of those boxes which are utilized for storage of various items; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the organizer which is incorporated in the combination of a luggage container and interior organizer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, the train case of the invention comprises two basic and generally separate, major elements or components. The first major element is depicted, for example, in FIG. 3 and comprises a generally rectangular parallelepiped, outer luggage container 20 which is soft-sided. Thus, container 20 is comprised of a soft-sided material such as fabric, canvas, vinyl or some other soft-sided material which is foldable and pliable. The particular material is not a limiting feature of the invention. The second major element or component of the combination is the rigid sided interior organizer such as depicted in FIG. 8; namely, organizer 22. The organizer 22 is comprised of a series of generally rectangular, parallelepiped boxes, each box having an open top and arranged in an array of stacked or tiered boxes as discussed hereinafter.

Referring therefore first to the soft-sided generally rectangular parallelepiped outer luggage container 20, the container 20 includes a generally rectangular bottom panel 26 and a circumferential, generally peripheral side panel 28 including a front side 30, a first lateral side 32 and a spaced, generally parallel, second lateral side 34. The peripheral side panel 28 further includes a back side 36. The front side 30 and back side 36 are generally of equal height and are generally foreshortened in height relative to the first and second lateral sides 32 and 34. Thus, the first and second lateral sides 32, 34 include upwardly extending sectors or sections 33 and 35, respectively. A top cover flap 38 is hinged or connected to the back side 36 along a seam or line 40. The top cover flap 38 is sized so that it can fit over the lateral sides 32 and 34 as depicted in the figures and downwardly to connect to the front side 30 to thereby form an enclosure. A peripheral zipper 42 is provided to permit attachment of the cover flap 38 to the sides and more particularly to the side sections 33 and 35 as well as to the top edge of the front side 30 to form an entire enclosure as depicted, for example, in FIG. 1. The top flap 38 further includes a handle 44 in the top section 46 which forms the top of the soft-sided, closed, generally rectangular parallelepiped, outer luggage container 20. Clips or buckles 48, by way of example, are provided in the sectors 33 and 35 on the outside thereof for attachment of a carry strap for carrying the luggage item or train case. The peripheral side panel 28 is attached to the bottom panel 26 along the lower edge 29 of the peripheral side panel 28. The luggage container 20 thus may be assembled in a closed condition, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1 or opened as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. FIGS. 7 and 8 also show the container 20 in the opened condition. When in the opened condition, the lateral spaced side walls 32 and 34 and, more particularly the sections 33 and 35, may be folded outwardly inasmuch as they are flexible and the luggage itself is soft-sided. This outward folding feature is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. When the container 20, however, is to be closed by the zipper 42, the flap 38 is attached to the upright extension of the sections 33 and 35 so that they are generally flat planar extensions with respect to the lateral sides 32 and 34.

A second element or feature of the invention is the rigid sided interior organizer 22. The organizer 22 is comprised of a first or lower box 50 which is a generally rectangular parallelepiped, rigid box having an open top and formed with five sides. The box 50 is preferably sized so that it just fits within the interior of the peripheral side panel 28 and thus provides form and shape to the train case. Further, the lower box 50 has a height which is preferably equal to the height of the front side 30 and back side 36. The organizer 22 further includes a plurality of additional boxes; namely, a series of open top boxes 52, 54, 56 and 58. The open top boxes 52, 54, 56 and 58 in the embodiment shown are all of equal size and have a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration. The boxes 52, 54, 56, 58 are sized again, in the embodiment depicted, to have a top profile approximately equal to one half of the top profile of the lower box 50. Thus, the boxes 52, 54, 56, and 58 may be stacked in layers one upon the other to cover or fit over the lower box 50. The lower box 50, as well as the upper boxes 52 and 54, are connected by a telescoping mechanism 60 which permits opening, sideways movement, and exposure of the open tops of each of the boxes 52, 54. In a similar fashion, the boxes 56 and 58 are connected by means of a telescoping mechanism 62 to one another and to the lower box 50. The telescoping mechanisms 60 and 62 are preferably provided by attachment to the opposite sides of the boxes 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58. The telescoping mechanisms 60, 62 permit the sideways movement and arrangement of the boxes 52, 54, 56, 58 in an open condition by folding over the flaps 32 and 34 as depicted in FIG. 7 or closure of the boxes 52, 54, 56, 58 to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5. An advantage of the train case as described is that all of the interior organizer 22 may be placed within the enclosure defined by the container 20. The top boxes 54 and 58 as illustrated in FIG. 5 are easily accessible in this condition. Further accessibility though is obtainable by folding the side flaps 32 and 34 or sides 32 and 34 outwardly so that the interior organizer may be changed to the telescoping position as illustrated in FIG. 7.

With the invention, the container 20 can be made from a lightweight yet rugged material. The interior array of the interior organizer 22 provides form and shape to the combination. The interior organizer 22 may also be removed from the container 20 and the interior organizer 22 can be separately placed, for example, on a table for use and access to the items carried therein. The container 20 may be used independently of the organizer 22. Thus, the combination of the invention enables utilization of the component parts thereof separately as well as in combination.

An important feature of the invention is the arrangement of the relative dimensions of the lateral sides 32 and 34 relative to the interior organizer 22. That is, the lower box 50 is approximately half the height in the preferred embodiment of the lateral sides 32 and 34 including sections 33, 35. The interior hard sided boxes 52, 54, 56 and 58 in combination when stacked as depicted for example in FIG. 4 are approximately the height of the lower box 50. Thus, there is a modular arrangement of the various component parts with the lower box 50 most importantly being generally equal in height to the height of the front side 30 and back side 36 thereby enabling ease of access to the lower box 50 yet telescoping movement of the upper boxes and folding of the sides 32 and 34 (33, 35) to facilitate that access. Of course, the number and array of upper boxes may be varied to accomplish this objective. Various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A train case comprising, in combination: a soft-sided, generally rectangular parallelepiped outer luggage container including: a generally rectangular bottom side panel; a generally peripheral side panel having a circumferential bottom side edge affixed to the bottom side panel to form an enclosure, said side panel comprising a front side, first and second spaced lateral sides and a back side, said front side foreshortened in height relative to the lateral sides, said back side also foreshortened relative to the lateral sides; and a cover panel connected to the back side of the side panel and foldable to form a container closure in combination with the first and second spaced lateral sides and front side; and a rigid sided interior organizer placeable within the luggage container, said organizer comprising a generally rectangular parallelepiped lower box fitted into the enclosure and rested on the bottom side panel; and at least one generally rigid sided open top box that may be fitted over the lower box and which is attached thereto by a telescoping mechanism, said open top box having a first position over the lower box and within the enclosure and a second telescoped position extending laterally over one of said spaced lateral sides of the luggage container which is folded outwardly from the enclosure whereby access is provided to the lower box.
 2. The train case of claim 1 wherein the interior organizer is comprised of a plurality of top boxes, each top box having a first untelescoped position over the lower box and a second telescoped position at least partially over one of the outwardly folded first and second spaced sides, whereby the top boxes and lower box fit within the enclosure when said boxes are in the first position and expose at least a portion of the open top of every box in the second position.
 3. The train case of claim 1 wherein the cover panel includes a fastener for attachment of the cover panel to the spaced lateral sides and front side of the side panel to enclose the rigid boxes within the enclosure upon attachment of the fastener.
 4. The train case of claim 1 including a handle affixed to the cover panel.
 5. The train case of claim 1 comprising an array of multiple top boxes positionable over the lower box, each of said top boxes having a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration and positionable in at least one layer that covers the top of the lower box, each of said top boxes connected by said telescoping mechanism to the lower box.
 6. The train case of claim 1 wherein the soft-sided outer luggage container arid interior organizer are separable whereby the organizer is removable from the container.
 7. The train case of claim 5 comprising an array of multiple top boxes forming at least two uniform thickness box layers positionable over the lower box. 